The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-09-08
SOL. TAYLOR'S ESCAPE.


SOL. TAYLOR'S ESCAPE.
New York Sun.
Icame West when I was seventeen
years OF age (said old Sol. Taylor,
OF GEORGETOWN, Colorado, the
other day., and now Pm bit over
sixty. You can figger that up and see
how long I've been diminishing with
Indians, grizzlies, and panthers, rattle
snakes and tho other pesky varmints
OF the mountain, plain and prairie.
There hasn't been an Indian warrior the
last half century that haven't had d.
hand in, and l recon I've had as many
stand-up fights on my own hook as
any scout or hunter you can name:
have been captured and put to the
torture twice. and been captured and
got away without torture three or
four times: In times Of peace I have
lived with the Pawnees, Kiowas,
Apaches, Sioux, Cheyennes, and Black
feet, and in times of war I have fought
all these tribes. Mebbe I am, there.
fore, II purity good Judge OF Indian ma.
tur', and when you ask
me which tribe OF redskins has the
most honor reply that 1 never yet
saw an 1ndain whom would trust a.
rod. The only reason that some OF
'em have served tho Government as
scouts and traitors is because they
happened to hate their own kind just
then little wuss than they did the
white man. However, you want some
of my own adventures, and will give
you one:
Before the days of railroads in the
West a man who was spilin' for an
Indian fight could get it within rifle
shot OF Fort Kearney, and this state
OF affairs continued up to 1866 and
later. The last time l was captured
was on the Smoky Hill fork OF the
Kansas River, and it was while the
railroad was being pushed across the
State OF Kansas. A railroad through
the Indian country meant good-by to
game and good-by to the Indian. The
redskin realized this as forciblv
as the white man, and he
was on hand to fight the
progress OF the road. He was
foolish enough to suppose that the
killing off Of q few scouts and survey
ors would stop all work, and by the
time the road was half way across
the State OF Kansas every Indian
who had any patriotism about him
was in front Of it and doing battle.
The. contractors had to employ a
great many scouts and fighters to
protect the advance men, and l was
one OF those thus engaged. In the
five months of my employment l kill.
ed thirty-nine Indians and brought
thirty-nine scalps to camp, and there
were other scouts who did as we'll or
better. We did not lose near as
many men in proportion, as we
fought entirely on the defensive, and
had all the advantage.
My capture occurred one morning in
September. One of the engineers OF
the road had been on a spree. and
while verging on delirium tremens had
lett camp and wondered off. He had
been gone two or three hours before
he was missed, and at midnight OF
q rainy, gusty night six OF us
started out on foot to hunt him up.
AS no one knew the direction he had
taken, each OF us went his own way.
There were plenty of Indians around
us, and O. scout had been wounded
that afternoon within half mile Of
our camp. Each man of us who went
out took big chances OF being captur.
ed, but there was no hesitating OF
hanging back on that account. Our
camp was close to the river, and nv
first move was to cross the stream
The water was no more than waist
deep, and l had no trouble in reach
ing the other bank. The engineer
whose name was Sewell, had gone of
in his shirt and trousers and boots
He was bareheaded, out OF his senses
and had no weapons of any sort
My only hope of finding him was that
he would become exhausted before
going far and sit down.
Once across the stream, I held tC
the north for about mile, and then
turned to the left and kept on unit
had described quarter OF a circle
and come to the river again.
then went back to the starting
point and bore to the right, and il
was while on my way to the river that
four Indians suddenly rose up from
the grass at my feet and seized me-
can't say that l was off my guard
but it did seem bit queer to me as
thought it over afterwards that
should let the skunks get such an ad,
vantage over me. I could see fairly
we'll for twenty feet or more around
ME, but the fellows Rugged the earth
so closely, and happend to walk Sc
raight into the trap, that was done
for before l knew what was 20.
ing on. Not yell was uttered-not
q word spoken. Two OF them tripped
me up, and the other two piled on to
me and disarmed me, and in less than
minute my arms were jerked behind
me and made fast, and away we went
to the northwest on trot. This
was maintained for abont a mile
when we came upon party OF fiji
ty mounted redskins, and in
the midst of them I found Sewell.
He was PROSTATE with exhaustion
and fear, and when spoke to him,
which act the Indians seemed rather
to encourage, he began crying and
sobbing like a child. I was lifted uI
behind q warrior and off we went at q
gallop, riding to the west and keeping
close to the river until. We had made
at least fifteen miles. Then we came
upon all Indian village as it was grow
ing daylight.
My feelings during that ride were
anything but agreeable, can assure
you: The fact that l was not killed
at the moment of my capture had g
significance which I we'll understood
was just as certain to 60 to the stake
for torture as remained a. prisoner